Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Ben Perry was shot and killed on Ohio State Route 41 by two hitchhikers he stopped to question about a robbery. One of the subjects shot Sheriff Perry as he approached them and then fled in his patrol car. They abandoned the car when it became stuck in mud near Tulip. Five days later, they were captured 200 miles away near Antioch in Monroe County. Both suspects had escaped from the London prison camp on December 29, 1952. They were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison on May 3, 1953. The shooter died in prison January 9, 2002. Sheriff Perry had been sworn in as sheriff exactly one week before being murdered and had previously served with the Gary, Indiana, Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-E6BEA0AE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Perry gave the Adams County Sheriff's Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the West Union community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Perry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Ben K. Perry is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ben K. Perry's cause is highlighted.
How Ben K. Perry Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ben K. Perry is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ben K. Perry was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Adams County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.